Our official mascot of 2020: Washes his hands incessantly. Always wears a mask. (With the letters in RACCOON, you can spell CORONA)We learned from the locals that a raccoon had been a featured house guest at Camp as far back as the 1930s during the days of The Wandawega Hotel. One particularly social furball would come to the door of the restaurant on a regular basis. If he wasn’t granted immediate access, hed scratch until a patron would come to the door. Then hed make the rounds, table by table – staring down diners until they handed over bits of whatever they had on their plates..Around the same time, Calvin Coolidge and his wife Grace had a pet raccoon living with them in the whitehouse they named Rebecca, so it was considered a strange but chic pet at the time. .Wed heard this legend for years and so adopted George the RACCOON as our mascot. He has since become a recurring character in our brand partnerships with @crateandkids on bedding, toys & pillows. In our @penguinrandomhouse childrens book, And with @Gant on our Wandawega kids line in shirts, tees and oxfords. Most recently for the new projects like magnets, flasks and decals that will be launching in our campstore soon..But to date hes still most popular with guests who sneak him off the mantel onto a canoe or in a group shot.George is a little stiff and worse for wear these days (having lost a few toes over the years). But we keep patching him up and will keep him forever as our reminder to wash our hands and wear a mask..All shots of the OG George & his camp iterations since – (except pics 1&3).The second photo is from the cover of the brochures here from the 1940s – which featured George climbing on the main lodge sign.
We have never seen a hatchet throw like this (20sec Mark) Our tiny staff here are excited to see the new spot Wisconsin just created and released about Camp Wandawega..We may not have been not born here, but we are so proud to call the dairy state home- and were happy to see small businesses like us included in tourism spots worth a visit..And grateful to Brad (@bhwoodworks ) Ash (@ahutchgram ) Joe, Ellie & Kerry for being the small but mighty crew who make this place worth stopping by.Thank you to our guests who are patient, chill and have a healthy sense of humor when they visit. Because we are still Not new. Not Improved. Since 1925.@travelwisconsin #wisconsintraveler
New (and by far, our favorite) addition to the campstore is here .We originally created these as a guest gift for the folks at @shinola a few years ago when we hosted a creative retreat for their leadership team & press.The most authentic to summercamp – an archery arrow.In a workshop tucked away in the Woods in Washington is a woman who has been making the perfect wooden archery arrows for nearly 60 years. She makes them wirh the same antique equipment she learned on, as taught by her father. .It took us months of researching American family-owned arrow makers to finally find @suzannestcharles – a second generation artisan still crafting them on the same vintage equipment.We would begin the process of picking the feathers. Who knew that there are so many feather options? All scissor cut & hand died..Then selecting the sinew style (to tie off the tips)..Then the wood type for the shafts themselves. (A dozen diff varieties, based on use of arrow).Then we dug into the exploration for the patterns for the hand painted lacquer color bands, (each signify a different thing, as is the Boy Scouts order of the arrow tradition)..A dozen different versions were designed before we landed on the banding story this arrow would tell..After rounds testing, samples, shaft band combos… each arrow was hand made, numbered & signed.We even found a company who still manufactures the original 50s arrow shipping boxes.) enclosed in the box is a letterpress thank you card, affixed with a brass hat clip fish hook. We made only 40 of these, but our friend @jolinerivera was so taken by the arrow craftsmanship that she did a story in SWEET PAUL mag on @nwarchery titled The making of an American Arrow..These arrows are as special as the few people who still possess the talent to make them. Weve decided to commission another small batch from Suzanne for our camp store, (opening soon in the coming weeks). Photos in @Sweet Paul by @kathryngamblephoto + @bobcoscarelli @paulstrabbingSuzanne, you are a treasure, a true talent & an inspiration. .*campstore version features Wandawega logo instead of Shinola & doesnt include the book or bag
(2) New project(s) .COVID forced the cancellation of our entire 2020 season of group rentals, events, weddings & retreats.(The majority of our bookings for the calendar year are large gatherings secured a year out). This was scheduled to be our biggest season to date. To keep this small business afloat, we depend on those rentals. .One of the bummers was that we had to put a hold on the construction of the 4 rustic A-frame cabins that had been scheduled to go up. #nextyearSo in our stubborn pursuit to find the bright side of all things, we decided to quit our wallowing, get off our tails, & rethink what else we could do-until we get through this.So it is with joy to finally get to share what else weve been working on. We commissioned a pair of old school canvas wedge tents for the season. (finishing outfitting today)It took 4mos to find a fabricator to custom make them for us. This particular style is lifted from our camp patch, in these dimensions in this color – 8 ft peak in goldenrod yellow.- it doesnt exist on the market..Ive literally been toting around a pic of a 69 BSA wedge tent and a screen grab of the mess tent in Moonrise Kingdom to color match, only to be told NO by 4 manufacturers.THE BIRCH & THE WALNUT as we affectionately call them. – Behr of Maine Camp stools & chairs – Double entrances w/zip-tight bug screens- 70s aluminum camp cots (w/ mattress toppers)- vintage navy blue coolers & lanterns- Adirondack twig side tables- @faribaultmill camp blankets* 1st shot is just the photoshop comp; after shots coming soon.Coming soon is our motto this year. Were looking forward in every way we can, cause weve found that this manifest what you envision thing actual does work. We were already 70% booked for our social distance-friendly options just 10 days after our re-opening (& love meeting all the guests!)All said, were still able to put this into perspective, given so many other small businesses & lives that this pandemic has affected in more devastating ways. .Its a humbling reminder for us to be grateful for the little things. .Little yellow tents are a good start for us.
8pm last night….Charlie: lets go kayaking before the light is gone. Grandpa taught me how today..Bursting hearts as this little nugget commandeered her own kayak for the very first time. Two weeks ago she was too scared to even ride in one with us. .There is nothing better than watching a kids confidence grow outside. good job, grandpa Herb! .#milestones
OUR ACTRESS (& ACTOR) CRUSH CAME TO FILM AT CAMP- and just released their trailer .Our actor crush Jemaine Clement ( @avatar, @flightoftheconchords) & @gillianjacobs (@GirlsHBO) Are the leads ina movie with scenes shot at camp last summerAbout: The film will follow Kate Conklin (Jacobs) who is in a rut. Her engagement is called off, her first book isnt doing so hot, and all her friends are having babies. Out of nowhere she gets a call from her old professor, David Kirkpatrick (Clement), asking her to come back to her alma mater to do a reading. Shes suddenly back at her old school, hanging out with college kids and getting into trouble. .Congrats to rad writer-director @KrisReyKrisRey & her Cast:@JormaTaccone (Saturday Night Live) .Forrest Goodluck (@RevenantMovie) .Kate Micucci ( @katemicucci Zoe Chao (@BernadetteFilm) .@HannahgMarks (Spiderman) .Josh Wiggins (Hellion)Also, I didnt realize until watching the trailer that its about a girl going back to her old college to do a talk about her book, (I also went to SIUC & headed back a few years ago, after almost 20 years – to do a talk in the same auditorium, right about the time i signed my 3rd book). Its strange life coincidences that make me feel: REAL OLD- And make me regret everything I havent gotten done yet in the past 20 years since college. (And also what I did in college)We havent seen the film yet, but its looks hilarious – looking forward to seeing all the old haunts shot in Chicago & SIUC.
THEYRE HERE!FACT: NOTHING IN THE WORLD IS MORE SOOTHING THAN SNUGGLING PUPPIES. (Watching Charlies face when she saw them for the first time was…everything.) #happytears Shot 1: David when asked to stand in as a human heating pad for the babies while momma Bailey was getting fed.Shot 2: Charlie getting to hold one for the first time, (when she got to be a helper for their scale weighing).The vet reports 10 healthy, happy little puppies. Since its best for new puppies to be cared for by their mom, we leave her be – and shes doing a great job. But when it is time to come help her out with a few things, we love that Bailey is such a snuggler. When we come into her puppy pen (to help rotate in a fresh pad, mommas feeding time, etc. she wants to lay her head on your lap while she feeds her babies.) Because Bailey lives in the house steps from camp (& her dad Joe works here) shes been Frankies BFF & raised here since day one as part of the camp family. Weve been with her daily, helping to rotate a pup on mom on occasion (make sure the smaller weight one gets some feeding time too). Keeping them warm when Bailey has to run out (very briefly) to do her business in the yard. .But… This is magic time as soon as Bailey steps out, her pile of puppies start to cry and look for warmth & food, so you lay them on your chest so that they can feel your heart beat and body heat – it makes them calm down and fall asleep almost instantly) .And Charlie was especially excited to get to help put each one on the scale to get weighed (to report back to the vet)*PLEASE NOTE: Sorry! Months from now, when they are grown up enough to be away from mom, each of these pups already have forever homes with adoptive parents (within the family & close friends group). If you are looking for a dog, please consider adopting – the rescue where we found Frankie a dozen years ago was : Rescue.fluffydog.net – but there are lots of wonderful options. (see comments below for suggestions Lucky Mutts and more).Thank you Joe & fam for sharing these little furry bundles of joy with us
COMING SOON! WHICH SHOP FACADE / bar entrance should we build? 1 or 2? (3rd red door is the BEFORE – that we already ripped out- it was just a temp modern security door )Slide for the options.(First green awning option, wont overloading it by propping it out with barrels and signs-thats just the comp )The last shot is its current state & already ripped out- weve moved the Maintenance room back to another building where it was in the 20s).Leaning towards green awning vs modern black, because its more historically accurate to what was here back then.Weve been busting our tails during our pandemic down time to get the online camp store up & running. So the old Rathskeller is going through a design overhauled to serve double duty as our pull / pack / ship / inventory space & store.And were redesigning the exterior entrance to it. These are photo rough comps Progress so far:The antique shutter doors, vintage industrial barn light, evergreens are already in, and the historic Gallagher Tent & Awning is building the new awning for us to install soon!.DECIDING:Which look to finish it off with? (The last red door is our current before that we have already ripped out)whats inside: Weve rebuilt the first level of the lodge back rooms return to the old Rathskeller bar (down to the trap door in the floor above with a staircase that lead down to the gambling room that ran here illegally in the 20s – 40s).*almost done! sharing photos soon.* the physical store wont have official hours for the public, well be opening it for guests
Facelift time : Which design should we go with?>>slide right for options>>Welcome to the new and improved CEDAR LOUNGE or CEDAR TAVERN? And with either name… which design ??(These outside shots are comps of what the after could be).> New custom awning with vintage style striped fabric.> A mini forest of evergreens > Hand lettered exterior (FREE PARKING… cause, well, its already parked adjacent to our parking lot, and so are you, when youre here).(Our friends at @RightwaySigns are coming to hand paint the side soon so weve got to decide this now, and get her polished up & ready).Camps Flying Cloud Airstream was a barter with our friends @Threadless (and has been Davids quarantining mobile office) so when hes not trailering it to Chicago, we park it here for the season for friends to beat the heat (the dual zone AC in this thing is a damn dream)..The inside is outfitted like a rec room bar circa 1963 (But its still BYOB ).*group shot inside from a couple seasons ago back in the pre-pandemic good ol days
Getting our ducks in a row for tonight!!Full camp, full hearts this 4th. .This years celebrations looks different here in a many ways:.social distance group campfire and grill zones. .The much improved boardwalk (augments our two separate docks, as well as our two floating rafts that are a good 50 yards apart) to allow guests to distance even more while chilling on the lake.).But even with 24 acres of woods here to let people explore and distance – we still decided to shut off some of our rentals (to keep it from getting too crowded here this weekend)..Everyone enjoy your weekend safely. Friends- sending yall peace and good vibes this day & always. Photos by @themelholmes and @bobcoscarelli (last summer)
